CA1185632A - Exercising device with double acting hydraulic cylinder - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An exercising device comprising a frame, actuating means, and a double acting hydraulic cylinder used therewith.
The exercising device comprises a frame; actuating means mounted with the frame for movement by a portion of a human body; a double acting cylinder connected to the frame for resisting motion of the actuating means, the cylinder including a container having first and second chambers for supporting a fluid disposed therein and a passageway for placing the first and second chambers in fluid communication with one another; control means for regulating the flow fluid through the passageway; the control means having a plurality of orifices of varying sizes formed therein; and means to selectively position the orifices in communication with the passageway to control resistance to fluid flow to vary the magnitude of force required to move the actuating means. The new exercising devices in accordance with the present invention permits control of the amount of force necessary to move the actuating portion of the exercising devices.

Description

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1 BACKGROUND AND BRIEF SU~l~RY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is a Divisional of the applicant's co-pendiny Canadian patent application Serial No. 377,714 filed May 15, 1981, It is well known that exercising devices generally serve two purposes, the strengthening and rehabilitation of muscles. The older exercising devices generally use a series of pulleys and ropes f~r lifting weights. However, a recent development has been the use of a frame that supports a body, actuating means mounted with the frame for movement by a portion of the body, and a double acting hydraulic cylinder that resists movement of the actuating means and thereby strengthen or rehabilitate the muscles in the portion of the body moving the : actuati.ng means, Some examples of these exercising devices are: a "Neck Exerciser" disclosed in U.S. Patent No, 4,066,259 issued on January 3, 1978; a "Leg Exerciser" disclosed in United States Patent No. 4,185,818 issued on January 29, 1980;
and a "Leg Curl Exercising Device'l~ disclosed in United States Patent No. 4,254,94~ issued on March 10, 1981~
Although these exercising devices work exceedingly well with the conventional double acting h~draulic cylinders, they are not as effective as desirable because no specific double acting hydraulic cylinder has been developed for use in such devices or that permits control of the amount of force necessary to move the actuating portion of the exercising devices, ~.~

Accordingly, it is an ob~ec-t of the present invention to provide an exercising device and a double actiny hydraulic cyl:inder which resists movement in either direction of a slideably mounted piston as a piston rod at~ached to the piston is moved into or out of the cylinder, Further, it is an o~ject of the present invention to provide an e~ercising device and a double acting hydraulic cylinder which controls the amount of opposing force in the cylinder which thereby regulates the necessary force applied through a piston rod attached to a pis-ton in the c~7?inder to move -the rod into or out of -the c~linder.

In accordance wi~h the in~ention, an exercising device comprises a frame for supporting a human body, actuating apparatus mounted with the frame for movement by the portion of the body, and a double acting hydraulic cylindèr connected to the frame for resisting movement o the actuating apparatus~ The cylinder includes a container with first and second chambers for supporting a fluid disposecl therein and passageways for placing the chambers in fluid commun;cation with one another, A piston is slideably mounted within the first chamber for acting on the fluid disposed therein and the piston has a passageway for placing a portion of the first chamber on one side of the piston in fluid communication with the portion of the first chamber on the other side. A piston rod extends from the piston out of the container for moving the piston in response to movement of the actuating means and valve means are used for limiting fluid flow through a selected passageway from the first chamber to the second chamber. A control moails is connected to the cylinder for governing the fluid f1ow through tile selected passagoway ,o regu-late the amount of force necessary to move the actuating means.
In accordance with another aspect of the present .

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invention, an exercising device, comprising: a frame; actuating means mounted with the frame for movement by a portion oE a human body; a double acting cylinde.r connected to the frame for resisting movement o~ the actuating means, the cylinder insluding a container having first and second chambers for support-ing a fluid disposed there.in and a passageway for placing the first and second chambers ;n fluid communication with one anotherj control means for regulating the flow of fluid through the passageway, said control means having a plurality of orifices of varying siæes formed therein; and means to selectively position the orifices în communication with the passageway to control resistance to fluîd flow to vary the magnitude of force required to move the actuating means, In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a double acting hydraulic cylinder comprises an inner tube disposed within an outer tube. Head and base.members are used to close the ends of the tubes with each head and base member having a passageway for placing fluid disposed within the inner and outer tubes in communication~ ~ piston is sli.deabl~ mounted within the inner tube for acting on the fluid disposed therein and has a passageway extending therethrough for placing the fluid on one side of the piston in fluid communi.cati.on with the fluid on the other side. A piston rod for moving the piston 25 is mounted with the piston and extends through the head member to displace fluid în the inner tube. ~ first valve is mounted in the base member passagew~y to p~eYent fluid communi.cation there-through when the piston lS moved toward the base member and a second valve is mounted in the piston passageway for preventing 3Q fluid communication therethrough when the piston îs moved toward -thc head member. The valves and piston rod, thus, coact so t.~at fluid in the inner tube will always flow through the head member passageway to the outer tube when the piston is moved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DR~INGS
Other obJects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon readiny the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals are used throughout to designate like parts~
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an exercising device constructed according to the present invention;
FIG 2 is a bottom, perspective view of the de~ice shown in Fi~
FIG 3a and 3~ are elevational views~ partly in section and with parts broken away~ of a double acting hydraulic c~linder constructed according to th.e pre~ent invention in a : first operational mode;
FIG~ 4 is an elevational view of a portion of the

2~ invention shown in FIG~ 3a~ but in a second operational mode;
FIG. 5 is a view of the invention shown in FIG 3a taken in the directi.on of arrows 5 ~ 5;
FIG . 6 is a view of the.invention shown in FIG. 3a taken in the direction of arrows 6 - 6;
FIG.. 7 is a view of the invention shown i.n FIG. 3a taken in the direction of arrows 7 - ~;
FIG. 8 is a view of the invention shown in FIG~ 3a taken in a direction o arrows 8 - 8;

. 30 FIG. 9 is a view of the invention shown in FIG. 3b taken in the direction of arrows 9 - 9;
FIG. 10 is a view of the invention shown in FIG. 3b taken in a dixection of arrows 10 - 10;
FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the invention shown in FIG. 3b;
FIG. 12 is a view of the portion of the invention shown in FIG. 11 taken in the direction of arrows 12 - 12;
FIG. 13 is a view of the portion of the invention shown in FIG. 11 taken in the direction of arrows 13 - 13;
and . FIG. 14 is a view of the portion of the invention shown in FIG. 11 taken in the direction of arrows 14 - 14.
While the invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that it i~
not intended to limit the invention to that embodimentp On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims~
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Turning now to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a ~ device 20 for exercising a portion of the human body which ; includes a frame 22 for supporting the human body, Frame 22 includes an H-shaped base 24, with a foot 26 threadedly ~oined at the outer end of each arm o the base~ and a chair portion 28 which has a seat portion 30 and back portion 32 supported by front legs 34, 36 and back legs 38, 40 extending up rom

3~ the cross m mber of base 24, A pair of hand grips for limiting 1 -6- .
movement of the body during exercising are positioned on each side of seat 30 by use of bracing rods 44 connected to back legs 38 and 40.
An actuating device 46 is provided at the front of seat 30 for exercising a leg i!L' in both for and aft movement. Actuating device 46 includes a pair of mounting arms 48 connected to the front end of seat portion 30 which pivotally mounts a lever 50 in alignment with the ~oint of knees "K".
An arm 52 is mounted to the outboard end of lever 50 and supported by brace 54, A front pair of padded rollers 56 and a rear pair of padded rollers 58 are connected to arm 52 so tha-t an ankle of the user will be held by a front and rear roller on each side of arm 52~
A double acting hydraulic cylinder 60 is used to resist movement of actuating means 46 when moved by the user between the extended position, shown in dotted outline in Figure 1, and the relaxed position, shown in solid outline.
Hydraulic cylinder 60 is pivotally attached between a lever 62 which is fastened to seat 30 of frame 22 and to a lever 64 fastened to actuating means 46.
Turning now to Figures 3a, 3b and 4 double acting hydraulic cylinder 60 is shown with actuating means 46 being moved from the extended to the retracted position (Figure 3a) and with actuating means 46 being moved from retracted to extended positions (Figure 4). Hydraulic cylinder 60 has an outer tube 66 and an inner tube 68 concentrically disposed within the outer tube and both tubes extend between a head member 70 and base member 72, This ar.ran~ement ~orms a first chamber wi.thin the inner tube and a second chamber within the annulus between the inner and outer tubes t A cylindrical pl~ston 74 for acting o.n any fluid disposed within the Ei.rst chamber is slideably mounted within inner tube 68~ Mounted about the outer periphery of piston 74 is an 0-ring 76 to prevent fluid communication around the outside of the piston and a ring 78 to limit the wear of the piston as it is moved within inner tube 68, A ~assageway 8Q for placing a portion of the first chamber on one side of the piston in fluid communication with the portion of the first chamber on the other side e~tends concentrically through cylindrical piston 7~, A piston rod 82 for moving the pi.ston 74 extends through head member 70 and has a first end with a male member 84 for extending into passageway 8Q to threadedly engage female threads on the pistonS A passageway 86 extends through male member 84 to join with cross passageway 88 for permittin~
commun;cation of the fluid ~etween the two portions of the first chamber. The other end of piston rod 82 is connected to a bracket 86 which, includes a hole 88 permitting a pin to be inserted therethrough for mounti.ng rod 82 to lever 64 of actuatiny device 46.
A check valve 9G i.s mounted within passageway 80 of piston 74 to pre~ent fluid ~ommunlcation through the piston passageway when the piston is moved toward head member 70 while permittin~ fluid communication through piston passageway 80 when piston 74 is moved toward base member 72, Preferably, the body of check valve 90 is formed by piston 74 and has a ball 92 supported by a four finned support 94 which permits fluid to flow therethrough, A spring g6 ~ctends between support member 94 and male member 84 of rod 82 Eor urging ~ 3~

ball 92 toward a valve seat 9~ provided by an annularly extending shoulder in passageway 80.
As best shown in Figures 3a, ~, Ç and 7, base member 72 has a first surface 100 and a second surf~ce 102 faci.ng out-wardly of one another, An elevated shoulder 104 extends away from first surface 100 for receiving the ends of the outer and inner tubes~ An outer O-ring 106 and an inner O-ring 108 are provided on the outer and inner surfaces of elevated shoulder 104 to prevent leakage between the ~unction of base member 72 and the outer and inner tubes. A passageway 110 extends through base member 72 from first sur~ace 100 to second surface 102 and a second base member passageway 112 extends from second suxface 102 into a ~alve inlet port 114, A check valve for preventing fluid communication through base member passageway 112 when the piston moves toward th~ base member while permitting.fluid communi.cation through : base member passageway 112 when the piston moves toward the head member.is mounted within base member 72, The body of the 2~ ~alve is formed by base member 72 and passageway 114 is the valve inlet port and an outlet port 118 permits fluid flow out o~ the valve into the first chamber. The check valve has a ball 120 held by a four finned support 122 which permits fluid flow therethrough, A plug 124 is ~hreadedly connected to base member 72 and a sprin~ is mounted between plug 124 and support 122 for urging ball 120 against a val~e seat provided by an annular shoulder 128 on base member 72. Extending outwardly oE plug 124 is an access passage 130 which has a closing plug 132 thread-edly connected therein. , 3~ Bearings 134 are mounted in a passageway 136 which extends transversely through base member 72 so that a pin extends 1 through passage 136 for mountin~ base member 72 to lever 62.
As best shown in Yigure 3b, 9 and 10, head member 70 has a first surface 138 facing firs-t surface 100 of base member 72 and a second surface 140 facing away from first surface 138, An elevated shoulder 142 is provided on first surface 138 for receiving the other end of the outer and inner tubes. An outer 0-ring 144 and an inner 0-ring 146 are provided on the outer and inner surfaces of elevated shoulder 142 to seal head member 70 to the outer and inner tubes. A first passageway 148 extends through head member 70 concentrically of the outer and inner tubes for receiving piston r~d 82 therethrough and a sealing ring 150 and a wiping ring 152 are ~ounted within the passageway ; concentrically of piston rod 82. A second passage 154 is disposed concentrically of first passageway 148 to form an annulus around piston rod 82 within head member 70. A gauge passageway 156 extends through one side of head member 70 for receiving a gauge 158 which indicates the amount of pressure being exerted within the first chamber. A control passageway 160 extends from a side opposite gauge passageway 156 to annulus 20 154 and communicates with a passageway 162 which extends through ~levated shoulder 142 thereby placing the first and second chambers in fluid communication.
As best shown in Figure 3b and 10 - 14, apparatus 164 is used to control the amount of fluid flow from the inner tube to the outer tube and is connected to head memher 70 by use of a snap ring 166. Apparatus 164 includes a tubular portion 168 having a longitudinal passageway 170 for receiving fluid from passageway 160 and at least one control orifice 17~ extending through the wall o~ the tubular portion 16~
for regulating the flow of fluid into passageway 162. Preferably, there are four oriflces 172 of var~ing cross-sectional areas extending radially through the side of tubular member 168 so that the amount of fo~ce necessary to move the~ piston 174 can be changed.
In order to register each of the orifices 172 in alignment with passageway 162, it is necessary that some form of indicator be pro~ided. In this instance, a control knob 174 is connected by a set screw 175 to stem 178 of control apparatus 164. A ball mounted within a passage of knob 174 is urged by a spring 182 toward.a facing surface 1~4 of head member 70.
Four recesses 186 are prov~ded within facing surface 184 so that as knob 174 is rotated and ball lB0 nests in a selected recess, one of the orifices is registered with passageway 162.
As best shown in Figures 3a and 5, an accumulating reservoir 188 for storing a quantity of fluid is mounted in fluid communication with the fluid in outer tube 66.
~his is accomplished by use of a tube 190 mounted between a channel 192 formed in second surface 102 of base member 72 and a channel 194 cut into an end cap 196~ A plug 198 is mo~eably disposed within tube 19.0 for accumulating variations and volumetric changes as the fluid flows from the second chamber Yia passageway 110 into first chamber via passage-way 112~ A guide rod 200 is threadedly connected to plug 190 and extends through a passageway in end cap 196 to cooperate therewith and prevent plug 196 from becoming wedged within tube 190. A spring 202 is moun-ted between end cap 196 and plug 198 to urge plug 198 toward base member 72 with sufficient force to insure fluid flow.into the first chamber as piston 74 is moved toward head member 70. A ~ent 204 is provided 3~

through end cap 196 to prevent atmospheric changes to eEfect movement of plug 198.
Preferably, head member 70, base member 72 and end cap 196 are made to have four corners which extend past the diameter of outer tube 66 and accumulating tube 190. Four holes extend through these corners for r~ceiving bolts 206 through the head member, base member and end cap and a nut 208 is screwed onto each bolt 206 for fastening the component parts of the hydraulic cylinder 20 together.
In operation, a person will adjust the force setting on hydraulic cylinder 60 by turning knob 174 on control apparatus 164. He will then set down on exercising device 20, position his ankles between padded rollers 56 and 58 t grip handles 42 and then extend and retract his leg for a specified number of times over a specified period of time.
; As the user extends his legs, actuating means 46 moves from position shown in solid outline in Figure 1 to the position shown in dotted outline As shown in Figure 4, this causes piston 74 to be mo~ed toward head member 70 which closes piston valve 90 to permit fluid flow from the first chamber through passageway 160, selected orifice 172 and passageway 162 into the second chamber and, opens base member valve 116 to permit fluid 10w from accumulator 118 through passageway 112, inlet port 114 and outlet port 118 into the first chamber. As the user retracts his legs, actuating means 46 moves from the dotted position to the solid position. As shown in Figure 3a, this movement causes piston 74 to be moved toward base member 72 which closes base member valve 116 to prevent fluid flow therethrough into accumulator 188 and opens piston valve 90 to permit fluid ~5~i~3,~

communication between -the two portions of the first chamber, since piston rod 82 moves into the first chamber, fluid again flows from the first chamber through passageway 160, selected orifice 172 and passageway 162 in-to the second chamberO
Accordingly, hydraulic cylinder 60 resists movement of actuating means 46 in either direction, which causes the user to exercise his muscles in both directions.
From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention .is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth, tog~ther with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the apparatus.
It will be unders-tood that certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed with reference to other features and subcombinations, This is contemplated by and is within the scope of theclaims.
As many possible embodiments may be made of the :~ invention without departing from the scope thereo-f, it is to be understood t:hat all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
Ha~ing described the invention, what is claimed is:

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Claims (11)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An exercising device, comprising: a frame; actuating means mounted with the frame for movement by a portion of a human body; a double acting cylinder connected to the frame for resisting movement of said actuating means, said cylinder including a container having first and second chambers for supporting a fluid disposed therein and a passageway for placing the first and second chambers in fluid communication with one another;
control means for regulating the flow of fluid through said passageway, said control means having a plurality of orifices of varying sizes formed therein; and means to selectively position the orifices in communication with the passageway to control resistance to fluid flow to vary the magnitude of force required to move the actuating means.

2. The exercising device of Claim 1, including an accumulating reservoir mounted in fluid communication with the second chamber for storing fluid therein as the piston is moved.

3. An exercising device comprising: a frame for supporting a human body; a seat support member on said frame;
means for securing a human body to said frame to resist movement of the human body relative to the frame; actuating means pivotally secured to said frame for engaging an extremity of a human body; a double acting hydraulic cylinder connected between said frame and said actuating means; a piston in said cylinder forming first and second chambers on opposite sides of said piston;
control means in fluid communication with said first and second chambers for regulating the flow of fluid therebetween, said control means having a plurality of orifices of varying sizes

Claim 3 continued ...

formed therein; and means to selectively position the orifices in communication with said first and second chambers.

4. The exercise device of claim 3 said control means including a cylindrical member having an axially extending passageway, one end of said passageway being closed and the opposite end of said passageway communicating with one of said chambers, said cylindrical member having a plurality of generally radially extending orifices having one end communicating with said passageway and another end communicating with the other of said chambers.

5, An exercising device, comprising: a frame for supporting a body; actuating means mounted with the frame for movement by a portion of the body; and a double acting hydraulic cylinder connected to the frame for resisting movement or said actuating means, said cylinder including a container having first and second chambers for supporting a fluid disposed therein and passageways for placing the chambers in fluid communication with one another, a piston slideably mounted within the first chamber for acting on the fluid disposed therein, said piston having a passageway for placing a portion of the first chamber on one side of the piston in fluid communication with the portion of the first chamber on the other side, a piston rod extending into the container for moving the piston in response to movement of the actuating means, valve means disposed in the cylinder for limiting fluid flow through certain of the passage-ways so that fluid always flows through a selected passageway from the first to the second chamber, and control means connected to the cylinder for governing the fluid flow through the selected

Claim 5 continued.,.

passageway to regulate the amount of force necessary to move said actuating means.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 5, including an accumulating reservoir mounted in fluid communication with the second chamber for storing fluid therein as the piston is moved,

7. The invention as set forth in Claim 6, wherein the accumulating reservoir includes a tubular member connected to said cylinder, a plug moveably disposed within the tubular member, and a spring for urging the plug towards the container when necessary to add fluid to the first chamber.

8. The invention as set forth in Claim 7, wherein the reservoir includes a rod connected to the plug and a rod guide connected to the tubular member for keeping the plug aligned with the tubular member when moved in response to the fluid flowing into or out of the tubular member.

9. The invention as set forth in Claim 5, wherein said control means includes a tubular plug for receiving fluid into its end and a metering orifice through a side of said plug for regulating the flow of fluid into the second chamber.

10. The invention as set forth in Claim 9, wherein said control means further includes four metering orifices of varying sizes extending radially through the tubular plug side for varying the force necessary to be exerted to move said actuating means, the fluid flow into the chamber and the force necessary to

Claim 10 continued...

move he piston being changed by rotating the tubular plug to position a different sized orifice within the selected passageway.

11. The invention as set forth in Claim 10, wherein said control means further includes a knob for changing the position of the orifice and a spring loaded ball connected to the knob for nesting in recesses in said container to register the position of each orifice when aligned within the selected passageway.